The former Hearts midfielder was live on TV when the news broke about Neil Critchley’s dismissal.
Michael Stewart believes it was obvious from the start that Neil Critchley wasn’t the right fit for Hearts, after the club decided to part ways with the Englishman as head coach.
The announcement came during an episode of Sportscene following a 1-0 defeat to Dundee, capping off a disappointing run that saw Hearts miss out on a top-six finish and a Scottish Cup final appearance. Critchley’s tenure lasted just six months, with Liam Fox stepping in as interim manager.
Currently, Hearts sit five points clear of the relegation play-off position. Stewart suggested there was little enthusiasm for Critchley’s appointment from the beginning, though he expressed sympathy for the former Liverpool, QPR, and Blackpool coach.
Stewart’s verdict Speaking on the BBC show, Stewart said: “It’s clear they’re worried about getting pulled into the relegation play-off. I’m not surprised. I have a lot of sympathy for Neil Critchley — he’s a good man and knows football well — but he was never a Hearts manager. The bigger issue is who’s making these decisions.
“Since Anne Budge took the club out of administration, they’ve had six different managers across seven appointments, including Robbie Neilson twice. Although she’s not involved day-to-day anymore, the club’s track record on appointments isn’t strong. With Critchley, the board essentially handed the decision over to Jamestown Analytics, distancing themselves from responsibility. When his name came up, I don’t think anyone connected to Hearts thought it was a good choice.”
Hearts need to refocus Stewart stressed that Hearts must get back to basics and return to challenging for European places, noting how St Mirren, on a much smaller budget, have secured back-to-back top-six finishes.
He added: “It’s not rocket science. Hearts keep trying to be clever instead of doing the basics right. They are arguably the third biggest club in Scotland alongside Hibs and Aberdeen and should be pushing for Europe every season.
“Full credit to St Mirren — they’re making the most of what they have. Hearts aren’t. A bottom-six finish isn’t acceptable. They should be reaching the later stages of cup competitions and making Tynecastle an intimidating place again. As Peter Grant mentioned off-air, that requires the right type of players — and at the moment, Hearts don’t have enough of them.”
